AMBROSE is gobsmacked that doubts remain over whether defensive partner van Dijk and goalkeeper Forster will be representing their countries in June, and is adamant playing in Scotland should not be a hindrance to anyone's cap chances.

EFE AMBROSE knows two of Celtic’s record-chasing back five are going to Brazil in the summer but the Nigerian is adamant four of them should be sampling arguably the most exciting World Cup of all time.

Ambrose and Honduran Emilio Izaguirre will be representing their countries at the extravaganza and the centre-back is convinced his partner Virgil van Dijk and keeper Fraser Forster should be joining them in the colours of Holland and England respectively.

They will be together at Tynecastle tomorrow – if Izaguirre recovers from injury – as they try to survive the 31 minutes that would give them the Scottish clean sheet record. And Ambrose yesterday admitted he is gobsmacked that doubts remain over whether van Dijk and Forster will be at the big show in the summer.

Van Dijk hasn’t made a squad of 33 players named by Dutch coach Louis van Gaal for a get-together next month, a decision that makes his selection for the World Cup a long shot.

Ambrose simply can’t get his head round that – and he is adamant playing in Scotland should not be a hindrance to anyone’s cap chances.

He said: “I would be disappointed if Virgil’s not there and I think he should be because he’s a great player. I am certain Holland really need his talent.

“He has good feet and every quality to play in the World Cup Finals.

“I have seen Holland play and I think he still has a chance but it is up to the manager. He has to decide what kind of players fit into his squad best.

“But I believe everything is possible in football and that before the World Cup Virgil can play for Holland.

“For the way he’s playing it is unimaginable he could not make a squad of that size.

“But of the players who are there, the manager must think they are better.

“I believe Virgil will have a long time in the game and will play for the Holland national team. He is still young and will work even harder.”

As for Forster, Ambrose has no doubt he should be on Roy Hodgson’s plane to Rio.

He added: “Fraser is different class. Nobody can say there is anything he can’t do because already with Celtic he has done everything.

“He has kept clean sheets and in every game he’s been in top shape.

“Week in, week out he’s been doing it and he should be given a chance to perform in the World Cup because I don’t think there is much difference between playing in Scotland and the English Premiership.

“We have played against the best in the Champions League and Fraser has kept Celtic going.

“He should go to the World Cup and it doesn’t matter if he’s playing in England, Scotland or Germany. What he is doing is special.

“I’ve never been told not to play in Scotland. The first time I appeared for my national team I was playing in Nigeria. And when I played at the Olympics I was performing in the second league, not the Premier League.

“So it doesn’t matter where you play. It matters who the player is.”

Efe Ambrose is baffled by van Dijk's snub (Photo: SNS Group)

These players are now steamrolling towards their third title in a row and Tynecastle represents the next step.

But the clean sheet record will attract more attention than the quest for three points.

The Nigerian added: “Everybody is talking about it but it is not easy to achieve. It has taken a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment.

“It is close but you never know when it is going to end. We just think ‘game after game’ and see what happens. I’m sure the fans will let us know (if they get to 31 minutes) but we just have to keep it going.

“We scored seven goals there last time but this time it is going to be a different game because we know Hearts will give us a good fight as they won’t want a repeat of that scoreline.

“We want to do more than we did the last time so it is going to be a two-way fight. But we are Celtic and we know how to win games.

Ambrose was promoting a Celtic charity initiative that will see fans send their unwanted strips to Brazil for disadvantaged kids to wear during the World Cup and beyond.

Celtic have donated 1000 shirts and while Ambrose believes it is a fantastic gesture he admits the World Cup is on the backburner for now as far as he’s concerned – even though Nigeria’s match with Argentina might be one of the best of the group stage.

He said: “There are three or four months to go and to work on and right now I am only thinking about Celtic.

“I don’t have time to be thinking about anything apart from Celtic. That’s all I’m concentrating on.

“But I was in Brazil last summer for the Confederations and it is the best place to play football.

“It was a pleasure to be in that tournament. I never thought I’d get the chance to play in Brazil but things happen for a reason and I enjoyed every minute of every game I played there.

“It is perfect for playing football and for the World Cup. It is a great football nation – the best. Everyone in Brazil speaks about football and for them to have the World Cup is such a big thing.

“We’ve played Argentina in every World Cup we’ve been involved in apart from one. We’ve met them three times already, so we are not new to each other.

“They have had the edge in the past but I believe this time things will turn.”